The (Alleged) Villainess' Dad 2 - (Original Otome, VillainessDad!Reincarnator)
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Patience is the virtue of the mighty, and I was known to be one of the most patient men in the whole kingdom. Yet, I think the truth reason for celebrity over this trait is less about me turning the cheek, and more about me delivering righteous punishment when it is due.
First as a magician, and then as a ruthless politician when it was needed against some utter morons.
In this case, I had to be very careful and patient around the royal family. While I trusted King and Queen to not fuck this one up, I knew their firstborn was an utter cretin and one that had sold his soul to this social-climber of a student. Looking more into it, I realized that I needed to make this a nuclear retribution to avoid any future issues.
Let's be honest for just a second: I would sell my entire estate if that meant protecting my girl, and while it felt like an absurd thought, I could see the writing on the wall. The Prince was going to succeed in having the engagement broken, he would succeed in keeping his parasite around to try and become queen, and the nobility was going to get rebellious really fast - and no amount of savvy politicking could smooth things out.
The truth was that the Prince was going to be passed over and that the crown may as well end up with his younger sister, Princess Elena.
Even then, the succession would be messy: first, the Kingdom's succession law wanted men to rule, and it created more troubles in regard to political marriages; second, there was a high chance some of the more ambitious nobles would see the prince's bid as a chance to spring themselves to prominence while also turning the monarch into a puppet for their schemes.
In any case, the entire situation was bad - the well was poisoned, and the best thing to do was preparing for damage control.
Much to my relief, the King had skipped the ensuing Cabinet Meeting with the various Ministers, leaving me to deliver the troubling news of what was to come and what we had to do to weather the storm.
"Good Lords and Ladies, it has come to my attention that a potential national crisis is soon to unfold due to issues with the Crown Prince. I will be honest with you all, I would love to say that we will have a long mandate, but things have developed in a most unsavory manner," I started the meeting with quite the solemn tone. The large room was empty of fancy items, with just a large round table with multiple chairs present. The Ministerial Round Table, as it was called, was centuries-old and deemed the primary symbol of the constitutional power of nobility together with the monarchy. "The Crown Prince has shown interest of the romantic kind towards another girl despite him having been assigned to an engagement with my daughter. If things were to go sour, then I will have to provide my resignation to the King."
"So, that would be your downfall? Only yours?" Lady Jeaniemas, Lady Minister for Internal Affairs, inquired, having always eyed my post for a while and I sighed tiredly.
"Sadly no, milady. And, speaking of your... son- he too has shown some sympathies for the girl behind the potential infidelity of the prince."
The woman tensed up. A cunning lady, and yet a motherly figure- Lady Jeaniemas was familiar with 'hussies' as many times she had to kick away those ladies that tried to seduce her husband away.
A growl came from the woman. "What's the thing's name?"
"I will tell you in due time, but I suggest you cool your nerves as a direct approach will do more harm than good."
"What are you even talking about?! I should not defend my son from-"
"A 'poor girl' that he has given an oath of protection from all sorts of threats?" I asked, and the woman froze up as she realized I wasn't using the word tentatively. The Jeaniemas family was one that tackled magic just like any others, but they had a knightly upbringing until a few decades ago. Oaths were magically-binding for them, and her son had just sold his soul to the first cute girl that flirted with him. "Hence why the caution, milady. The anger is reasonable, and I know the same can be said for Lord Buremont and Lord Pascalus."
Both men facepalmed at the same time, their allies and friends looking at them with some unease.
"Who's the girl, Premier? We deserve to know this much,"
I turned to Lord Iresimal, Minister for the Royal Navy and Lord Admiral. "Her name is Delilah Martesy. At first glance, a commoner, but I was able to dig more and find out she is the illegitimate daughter of Baron Prenzin and one of his maids."
"Of course the harlot has to come from-"
"L-Lady Jeaniemas!"
"Oh shut up, Bartolomeus!" The woman snarled back at the man sitting beside her, the poor guy flinching at the harsh rebuttal. "I will call her what she is- a shameless whore in the making, and one that sank her teeth on various heirs to the high families. And let's not talk of that foolish prince." She turned to look at me. "I hope the king and the queen knows what's going on."
"Both do and both have 'promised' to see him given a stern reminder of his duties. Sadly for their pleas, I have heard some genuine witnesses of their discussion suggest that the prince is willing to turn this in a hill to die for."
...
"So, what's the plan? Are- Are you just going to resign?" Pascalus asked nervously, still recoiling from the idea his own heir was getting hustled like that. "Surely that's not the only plan you have."
"It's the worst option," I assured, but then I looked at the papers I had prepared for today. "But even the best choice is far from ideal. After all, it involves embittering the relations between us and the king by endorsing the shift of the succession to Princess Elena."
"The queen would refuse that," Jeaniemas quipped dryly, sighing as she eyed the very papers I was handling. "Of course, you're not planning to just ask."
"We all know diplomacy on such a matter would be risky. No, we either succeed in getting Elena as the Crown Princess, or it would be best to prepare our resignation letters for when the critical point is reached."
The full 'bad scenario' was enough to draw some frowns but... none rebuked that it was a possibility. In the eventuality of the prince breaking the engagement with my daughter, then I would have to tend my resignation. And while it wasn't odd for either a minister or the prime minister itself to resign as the rest of the government would remain, the resignation of the entire ministerial council was the equivalent of a king's abdication. The sheer amount of political damage it can cause to the monarchy would be massive but...
No one wanted a return to tyranny and rebellions if such a dangerous 'commoner' is allowed into power.
No matter how progressive some minds in the council were, no one would support a potential non-noble despot. And thus the paper was passed around to collect signatures.
It was an ultimatum. It was a troubling option to employ at this point, and I knew I was going to be yelled by both King and Queen once this piece of paper reached their eyes- but right now, we were in a very troubled position of 'when' to employ it. After all, there was a chance the prince pull back from this path and fix things up but... I know I was looking into a hopeless situation.
The rest of the council session went on undisturbed but the mood had been soured and the nobles were going to be made aware that things were brewing within the palace.
And that things were only going to get spicier in the ensuing month or two - they didn't know shit would hit the fan way earlier than anyone had anticipated.
Meryall wandered the school's halls. She wasn't alone, her two 'friends', Caleza and Patricia, were trailing beside her as they moved to the cafeteria.
This week had been a troublesome experience, and while Meryall had not faced much issues from her betrothed and his newest 'love', she still had to dodge Delilah many times to avoid giving her a chance to hurt her. Things got stable really fast- she worked around the clubs entertained by Commoners to raise up her reputation as a non-hating noble just like it used to be, helping when it was needed, and then she got into personally offering her notes to those students that struggled regardless of their class.
As her father had predicted, her reputation soared with such a careful but genuine effort of goodness. Yet, as he had also warned her about, Meryall was not going to dodge Delilah until the end of the month. An escalation was expected- what she didn't expect was for 'her' prince to be such a horrible being as she had been warned about.
Right as they arrived to destination, Meryall noticed Pirte standing up from his table and marching towards her. The blonde had swiftly formed a reason behind his current display of anger, with the faux-sobbing employed by Delilah as he stood by her side meant she (Meryall) 'did something to her'. And while she initially doubted he was planning to hit her, she was baffled that the young man even tried.
She saw the open palm rushing towards her as soon as he got in range to try and slap her. Red eyes widened for a moment as she saw the hand approaching, but soon narrowed in a glare as she caught him by his wrist and then kicked him between his legs.
"How dare you-OUUUU!"
The kick wasn't full-powered, but the stiff jump he produced as he tumbled backward due to its might meant he still suffered from it. Him spitting on the ground while holding his groin further elevated the sight as everyone was whispering at what just occurred.
"Y-You-"
"Were you trying to strike me, Pirte," Meryall asked coolly, her 'friends' standing by her side, but looking nervous at what had just happened before their own eyes. "I hope you were not, because then I would have to bring this slight to my family."
"Y-You ruined Lilah's dress, didn't you? You and your minions!"
...
"A dress? What dress?" Caleza asked, with Patricia appearing just as puzzled.
"I have no recollection of any dress your 'friend' may have, nor I have any interest in destroying any. After all, why would I do that?"
"Jealousy, obviously."
Meryall frowned, then took hold of the boy's necktie and made him draw his face closer to hers.
"Jealousy? I already have you. You are my betrothed, you are my future husband, and right now you are the only one doing the worst possible by actively avoiding me, playing around other girls' hearts and trying to demonizing me with others. This is unacceptable, and I thought the prince of this country would know better than act like a womanizer," She growled at him, her rage peaking at his ballsy attitude. "I expect an apology tomorrow morning, or I will be more than happy to ask my father to have our betrothal shredded to pieces because you are publicly cheating on me."
Pirte looked absolutely livid, but he seemed to realize everyone in that moment was looking at him and... they were all siding with Meryall.
"The choice is yours, beloved, and don't make me wait long because my patience with you is as thin as it could get."
He was dropped after that, and Meryall left with her 'friends' on tow.
"T-That was so cool, Mery." Patricia praised, with Caleza beaming in agreement but...
Meryall was scared about what had just occurred. Not only did Pirte tried to hurt her, but he also jumped to such a path after being told she had supposedly destroyed a dress. A dress. She would have been slapped for an unverified crime involving a fashion choice!
She was livid, she was angry, and she was also afraid of what to do next. Despite her cold demeanor, the entire scene rattled her a bit, and thus she decided a new letter to her father was needed.
Luckily for her, her dad had assigned the tiny bird familiar that gave her his response to her in case she had to sent quick letters to him - unaware that the tension game for the kingdom had spiked up to a new dangerous level.
AN
Next time, parents talk and... Thot Reincarnator's POV!